Freckles, Kish Dolls and a Soul Sister: Finds at the Season’s Last Doll Show

The season’s last doll show brought a familiar collector’s dilemma: a doll you’ve wanted for years, in a size that’s hard to accommodate. Freckles by Uneeda, made in 1962, had the bright orange hair that caught the visitor’s eye—and a $30 price that seemed fair. At an estimated 32 inches tall, though, she was a lot of doll to bring home. This time, admiration won out over the purchase.

The visit took extra effort. The show filled a sports center with thick artificial turf that made pushing a wheelchair difficult, and back pain limited how long the photographer could walk. A recent X-ray had shown arthritis and a herniated disc, and physical therapy was planned. The pain also made it impossible to retrieve a second phone from the car after the first stopped taking pictures about halfway through the room. That left plenty to see, but some familiar makers missed the photo record.

Wendy L Creations and Bristol Park Studios were both at the show, with work the photographer usually likes to feature, but the phone had quit before she reached their tables. Their work can be seen on Wendy L Creations’ Facebook page, Instagram, Bristol Park Studios’ Etsy shop and Facebook page.

Big dolls, small temptations

The usual route through the room starts near the entrance, though many purchases tend to happen at the opposite end. This time, the plan was to reverse course—until Freckles appeared. The doll’s size proved decisive. Freckles reportedly came in three sizes, from 12 inches to 32 inches, and this one seemed to be the largest. Her teeth added another memorable detail. The collector did buy a smaller item from the same dealer, to be shown in a later post.

The same dealer had an Old Cottage doll, a wooden lady and a characterful boudoir doll. Another figure, dressed as a modern major general, drew a strong reaction. A favorite category also appeared: little German dollhouse dolls, including one dressed as a Russian. The collector recognized another girl from a previous show photo and joked about having consistent taste. Felt dolls, a set of wooden peg dolls and several pretty larger dolls rounded out the early finds; the peg-doll set was appealing, though its price gave pause.

Faces and characters across the room

The tables offered plenty of distinct expressions: a Mary Hartline doll that looked a little startling, a cute girl beside a striking Kewpie child, and a cloth doll priced at $5. A piano baby had what the photographer called “crazy eyes,” while a brightly dressed lady and more child dolls kept the camera busy. One familiar-looking woman had appeared in an earlier show post, and a particularly realistic little girl stood out among the figures.

Several Loutky rod puppets still had their original box. Their faces brought to mind Tiffany Funcraft from the Doll People books. Nearby, shiny-faced dolls caught the eye; the figure in the large hat might be Deanna Durbin. A tiny doll, around six inches tall, had a face resembling that of a full-sized Tonner seen elsewhere at the show, though this smaller doll was not a Tonner.

Standout specialties and the final frame

One table held Kish dolls, including Creamsicle Lark, a long-sought grail priced at $150. The collector hadn’t remembered how large or jointed Lark was, and thought the display didn’t make much use of those joints. Felt-faced dolls and Irish dolls also appealed, alongside more Kewpie-like children.

A returning dealer had dolls connected with a museum donation, a cut-paper doll and a canoe carrying figures from the Lewis and Clark expedition, with Dilbert along for the ride. The display recalled the collector’s cloth dolls from Colonial Williamsburg and children’s books. Some figures stood about 12 and 14 inches tall. A beautiful wooden furniture set sized for a doll around eight inches was tempting, but the collector didn’t ask its price after finding the dolls at that table beyond her budget.

The remaining images take in bisque dolls, a Christmas decoration with a spun-cotton head, Renault wooden dolls reminiscent of Lotte Sievers Hahn figures, tall dolls, more Deanna Durbin likenesses, and a blonde Shirley Temple look-alike flanked by dolls whose names escaped the photographer. Other curiosities included chunky children, a pair that might be twins or simply matching examples, a girl with Princess Leia-style buns and a sweet, Hummel-like boy.

The phone’s final photograph captured the show’s most personal discovery: Soul Sister, the Black version of Susie Sad Eyes. The collector had loved big-eyed dolls as a child, especially Susie Slicker, and had known Soul Sister existed without ever seeing one in person. She would have wanted the doll then—and still wanted her now—but the price was more than she could spend.

That last image makes a fitting close to the season: a familiar collecting attachment, a first in-person sighting and a decision shaped by practical limits. The photographer hopes her back will improve enough to make future shows and photos easier. For now, the small purchase from the Freckles dealer is still to come in a later post.